Machine for operating on shoes



June 1953 E. s. KANT MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOES Filed June 11} 1952 Inventor Eda/m S Kant Patented June 23, 1953 MACHINE FOR OPERATING N SHOES Edwin S. Kant, Melrose, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery CorporatiomFlemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application June 11, 1952, Serial No. 292,864

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of shoes, and more particularly to apparatus for supporting a lasted shoe during a pressure applying operation. The invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine for progressively leveling the bottoms of shoesalthough it will be understood that it is not thus limited in its applicability.

One form of machine in which the invention may be embodied is illustrated by Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,104,739, granted Janu-- ary 11, 1938, upon an application filed in the names of A. Eppler et al. This patent illustrates a jack for use in a roll type leveling machine, the jack employing heel and toe supports and an auxiliary support for the cone portion of a last. This cone support embodies a last engaging pad mounted for yielding movement so as to be movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on the pad during the jacking operation. Provision is made for then forcing this cone support "firmly against the shoe after the shoe has been properly positioned.

In place of the pad shown in the aforementioned patent, a grooved roll may be employed for engagement with the cone portion of the last. This roll is mounted for axial and rotary movements so that it can move to accommodate lasts of difierent sizes and styles, and lasts for right or left shoes. Also, being in the form of a roll, it can present many'difierent surfaces to the cone of the last, thus giving a longer life than a nonrotatable pad for the same purpose. Moreover, a roll more readily accommodates variations in the inclination of the cone portion of the last.

In order to provide maximum support for the cone of the last, supporting it not only against pressure normal to the shoe bottom, but also against sidewise movements caused by the application of pressure to the shoe bottom but not normal thereto, as in a leveling operation when the marginal portions of the outsole are being operated upon by the leveling roll, it is desirable to lock the supporting roll against movement relatively to its supporting shaft.-

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved supporting means for a shoe engaging roll such that the roll is automatically locked against movement relatively to its supporting shaft in response to the application of pressure to the roll. To this end In accordance with a feature of the invenihe roll except at the ends of the roll, the shaft Claims. (Cl. 12-127) V able material such as rubber.

having a weakened midportion permittingqfiex-f" ing of the shaft in response to the application of pressure to the roll thereby to lock the roll in position on the shaft. As illustrated herein, the central portion of the shaftis of substantially smaller diameter than the outer portions so that the shaft will readily flex the slight amount necessary to lock the roll in position thereon.

The above and other features of the invention including various details of construction and novel combinations of parts will now be described by reference to the drawing and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, I V r Fig. l is a side elevation of the work engaging parts of a roll type leveling machine inwhich the invention is embodied; and v Fig. 2 is a vertical section-of the cone support illustrated in Fig. 1,'but taken at right angles thereto and on a larger scale.

For a leveling operation, the shoe to be op erated upon is carried by a toe support [0 and a heel support 12 as in the Eppler et a1. patent, these elements forming parts of a shoe supporting jack which is moved forwardly and rearwardly to carry the bottom of the shoe under a leveling roll It. To provide additional support for the lasted shoe, a cone support I 6 is provided, this support being arranged to yield downwardly during the positioning of the shoe-on the jack and then to be forced upwardly upon movement of'the heel support to force the toe end of the shoe firmly into engagement with the toe "support. I

The cone support ofthe present invention, although operated inthe manner illustrated and described in the Eppler et a1. patent, differs therefrom in that the Work engaging element is in the form of a grooved roll l8 provided with a resilient work engaging lining 2i) of any suit- This roll is jour-' naled by means of bearings 22 on a shaft 24 fixedly carried by'arms 28 of a yoke 28 secured by a detent 30 to a post 32' which is moved up wardly during jacking of the shoe to force the roll firmly into contact with the cone of the last. By'mounting the whim rotation on the shaft 24',different' surfaces may be presented to the cone of the last thus enhancing the useful life of the work engaging element of the cone support.

In order to accommodate lasts of different styles, or lasts for either right or left shoes the roll I8 is also carried by the shaft 24 for axial movement, the roll normally being maintained spect to the shaft 24 during the leveling. opera:- tion. For this purpose the shaft 24 has a weakened central portion which as illustrated; here; in is provided by substantiallyreducing the diameter of the shaft along its mid-portionat 38.

of a last, and a shaft supporting said roll for It will be noted that the shaft is spaced from the v roll except at the bearings 22 andbecause of the small diameter of the central portion 38 therewill be aslight but sufficient bending of. theshaft 24 in response to the application of pressure on the roll to create a binding action between the bearings 22 and the shaft 24 whereupon the roll becomes fast on the shaft. As soon as the pressure on the roll is removed, the shaft 24 resumes its normal straightened condition permitting free rotation and axial movement of the roll with respect thereto.

From the aboveit will be seen that by a simple expedient, the roll is securely locked to the shaft upon the application of light pressure to the roll, the roll being free to turn and move along the shaft assoon as this pressure is removed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l; In a machine for operating upon shoes, a shoe engaging roll, a shaft supporting said roll for axial and rotary movements, said roll being formed to provide spaced bearings for said shaft, and said shaft being reduced in diameter between said bearings to render it flexible.

2. In a machine for operating on shoes, a shoe engaging roll, a shaft supporting said roll for axial and rotary movements, said roll being spaced from said shaft except at the ends of the roll, and'said shaft having a weakened mid-portion allowing flexing of the shaft within the roll upon the application of light pressure to the roll thereby to lock the roll against movements relatively to the shaft.

3. In a machine for operating on shoes, a shoe engaging, roll, and a shaft supporting said roll for axial and rotary movements, the diameter of the central portion of said shaft being substantially less than the diameterv of the other portions thereof allowing flexing of the shaft upon the application of light pressure to the roll thereby to lock the roll against movements relatively to the shaft.

4. In a machine for operating on lasted shoes, a grooved roll engageable with the cone of a, last, a shaft supporting said roll for axial and rotary movements, said roll being spaced from said shaft except at the ends of the roll, and said shaft having a weakened mid-portion permitting flexing of the shaft within the roll upon the application of light pressure to the roll thereby to lock the roll against axial and rotary movements on the shaft.

5. In a machine for operating upon lasted axial and rotary movements, the diameter of the central portion of said shaft being substantially'less than the other portions thereof allowing flexing of the shaft within the roll upon the application of light pressure to the roll thereby to lock said roll against axial and rotary movements on the shaft.

6. Apparatus for supporting atlasted shoe in inverted position comprising a toe support, a heel support, a grooved rollengageable with the cone portion of a last, and means supporting said .rolllfor axial and rotary movements when no pressure is applied-thereto, said means being constructed and arranged to lock the roll against axial and rotary movements in response to the application of pressure to the roll.

'7. Apparatus for supporting a lasted shoe in inverted; position comprising a toe support, a heel support, a grooved roll engageable withthe cone portion of a last, a shaft supporting said ,roll for axial and rotary movements when no pressure is applied thereto, said roll engaging said shaft only at the ends of the roll, and said shaft having a weakened mid-portion permitting flexing of the shaft within the .roll upon the application of light pressure to the roll thereby to lock the roll against movement relatively to the shaft. 7

8. Apparatus for supporting a lasted shoe. in

.inverted position comprising a toe support and a heel support, a grooved roll engageable with the cone portion of alast, and a shaft supporting said roll for axialand rotary movements, the diameter of the central portion of said shaft beingsubstantially less thanthe diameter of the outer portions thereof allowing flexing of the shaft upon the application of light pressure to the roll thereby to lock the roll against movement relatively to the shaft.

9. Apparatus for supporting a lasted shoe in inverted position comprising a toe support, a heel support, a grooved roll having a resilient work engaging surface engageable with the cone portion of a last, a roll-supporting shaft, bearings at the ends of said roll engageable with said shaft, said roll being otherwise spaced from the shaft, the shaft having a weakened mid-portion allowing flexing of the shaft within the roll upon'the application of light pressure to the roll thereby to lock the roll against movements relativelyto the shaft 10. Apparatus for supporting a lasted shoe in inverted position comprising a toe support, a heel support, a grooved roll having a resilient-work engaging surface engageable With the cone portion of a last, means supporting said roll for axial and rotary movements comprising a shaft, bearings at the ends of said roll engageable with said shaft, means normally holding said roll in a predetermined position lengthwise of the shaft,

the diameter of the central portion of said shaft being substantially less than the outer portions thereof permitting flexing of the shaft upon the application of light pressure to the roll thereby to lock the roll against movement relatively to the shaft.

EDWIN S. KANT.

No references cited; 

